In families with a history of genetic illness, it's not always easy to sort out who's at risk, as it depends on what the condition is.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] with your questions.

20041230

The majority of our trips to the surgery are to talk to our doctors about common conditions such as coughs and colds, chronic pain and feeling generally under the weather.

However, it seems that we're not always satisfied with the answers we get, as we often return to the GP with the same problem.

In Check Up this week Barbara Myers will be joined by LONDON GP, Dr Ann Robinson, to answer your questions on the top five common and often chronic problems that are very familiar to her and other family doctors.

20050101

Your New Year's resolutions may well include becoming healthier.

You may have problems that you've been avoiding taking to your doctor.

In the interactive medical programme, Barbara Myers puts your questions about the top five issues that people put off discussing in the surgery with GP Dr Keith Hopcroft.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20051124

Cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more popular in the UK.

It's been estimated that around 65,000 procedures are performed each year.

Dr Adrian Richards is in the studio to answer listeners' phone calls and e-mails on a variety of aspects of cosmetic surgery, from what happens in the operating theatre to the recovery times, and the physical side-effects, as well as the psychological assessments of the patients before they have the procedures.

Call Check Up on 08700-100-444 [national rates] from 1.30pm.

20051201

It's estimated that there are around 150,000 people in the UK today with ME or related chronic fatigue syndromes.

The conditions affect people at all stages of life, but the peak age tends to be between 20 and 40 and the incidence is highest in those with stressful occupations.

Neurologist Leslie Findley will be taking calls and answering e-mails on questions about what can trigger chronic fatigue, how to diagnose it and which therapies can make a difference.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates]

20051208

Stammering is not just a speech defect.

It undermines confidence and self esteem and affects education and employment opportunities.

Barbara Myers is joined by an expert to answer your questions on how to treat stammering and other speech difficulties, particularly in children and young people.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20051215

70% of all sore throats are caused by viruses and will clear up in a few days, but what do you do if your sore throat just won't go away? Do you persist with home remedies such as salt water gargling or drinking liquorice tea, or is it time to consult a doctor?

Barbara Myers and guests will answer your questions and listen to your suggestions about how best to treat sore throats, whether or not to have your tonsils removed and how to find out when a sore throat is a sign of something more serious.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20060209

Barbara Myers is joined by consultant Dr Anthony Rudd, of Guys and St Thomas' Hospital in London, to answer questions on strokes.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20060216

Barbara Myers is joined by experts to investigate how alcohol and other aspects of our lifestyle can affect livers.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20060223

Our vision loses its sharpness as we age.

Reading glasses can help us continue to see the small print, but other conditions such as cataract and glaucoma need to be treated with surgery or drugs.

There are now experimental therapies for macular degeneration, in which the central vision is lost.

Barbara Myers will be joined by an ophthalmologist to answer your queries on the prevention and treatment of these common diseases of the ageing eye

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20060302

Unexplained headaches are the most common reason for a GP to refer a patient to a neurologist.

They are a symptom of modern life - caused by eyestrain, stress or tiredness - but they can also indicate something more worrying.

So, how do you tell the difference? Barbara Myers is joined by headache specialist Professor Peter Goadsby, to answer your questions.

20060309

In the week of National No Smoking Day, a look at the detrimental effects of tobacco on the mouth.

It's been estimated that another one million have the condition but don't know it.

You are at risk of developing the condition if you are overweight, or have high blood pressure, or come from certain ethnic groups.

Diabetes is when your body can't use glucose properly, and is a serious disease.

If you want to know how to avoid diabetes and its complications, are worried that you may have the symptoms, or have already been diagnosed with the condition, contact the programme on 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

This edition looks at epilepsy, how to treat it and how to live with it.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

Epilepsy

20061123

This edition focuses on epilepsy, one of the most common conditions affecting the brain.

One person in 50 will have epilepsy at some point in their life.

While many epileptics live a normal life, the condition can restrict some people's independence and others can suffer social stigma.

Studio guest is Matthew Walker, consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Listeners can call 0870 010 0444.

Fibroids

20040325

This edition looks at fibroids, benign growths which can contribute to infertility, problem periods and incontinence.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

Functional Foods

20031113

20031120

If you want to know whether bio cultures in yoghurt are really health enhancing, how eggs are injected with fish oils and whether there are real benefits worth the extra cost, please contact the programme with your questions or comments.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

Giving Up Smoking

20061228

As the time for making those New Year's resolutions approaches, Check Up travels to a Brighton clinic for a programme on giving up smoking.

Barbara Myers and her specialist guests will be joined by current and ex smokers to discuss the health problems associated with smoking and the best strategies to try and make those resolutions last.

Hair: Too Much Or Too Little?

20040226

Baldness can make both sexes feel self-conscious and too much hair may be just as embarrassing.

If you suffer from hair loss, perhaps after PREGNANCY or chemotherapy and want to know how long it will take to grow back or have excess body hair you can't remove, then please contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700 100 400 [national rates].

Those who survive a heart attack may feel they have a new lease of life, but they are also at risk of having another: about 10 per cent of those who have a heart attack will have a further attack within a year of leaving hospital.

But lifestyle changes can reduce the risk.

Although many people are scared of exercising after a heart attack for fear that it'll trigger another, a gradual increase in exercise helps the heart to get back in shape and adapt to any scars left behind.

And new research suggests that the damage caused during a heart attack may in the future be repaired using new drugs and stem cells.

Listeners can call 0870 010 0444.

Hepatitis

20031211

means 'inflammation of the liver', and it is commonly caused by the presence of different viruses.

The disease can be caught from contaminated water, dirty needles, unprotected sex, and from blood transfusion despite preventative measures in place.

In many cases patients are unaware they carry the virus until health complications lead to a diagnosis.

If you want to know how to protect yourself, whether at home or abroad, please contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700 100 444 [national rates], or e-mail checkup@bbc.co.uk.

It is estimated that 1 in 13 adults have ASTHMA while 1 in 8 children are also sufferers, and ASTHMA is just one of the many respiratory diseases affecting the nation's health.

To find out the difference between EMPHYSEMA, BRONCHITIS and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or whether a child's wheeze after a cold could turn into ASTHMA, please contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700 100 400 [national rates] or e-mail checkup@bbc.co.uk.

This week on the health phone-in programme, Check Up Barbara Myers and guest will be discussing memory.

A degree of memory loss is part of the ageing process, but when does forgetfulness become dementia? Making lists, taking photographs, even making video recordings of daily life are quite common coping strategies for people with poor memories.

Menopause

20061214

The menopause is a natural part of the ageing process but for many women it can interrupt their sleep, ruin their sex lives and weaken their bones.

Recent controversy over the use of hormone replacement therapy has stopped many women taking advantage of the treatment, but others are unaware that once they stop using HRT, the hot flushes come back.

But there are ways of lessening the uncomfortable signs of the menopause.

Call Barbara Myers and her guest, gynaecologist Heather Currie, if you have any questions.

Migraine And Cluster Headaches

20040304

These can seriously affect sufferers' ability to function normally for hours or even days, and they can feel excruciating pain.

Barbara Myers puts your questions on the difference between migraine, cluster headaches and neuralgia and the latest drugs to treat them to Professor Peter Goadsby of the Headache Group at the Institute of Neurology in LONDON.

Contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700-100-444 or e-mail checkup@bbc.co.uk.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

20050324

(OCD) is a chronic relapsing anxiety disorder which is characterised by recurrent unwanted obsessive thoughts and compulsive rituals.

It can have a potentially devastating impact on all aspects of everyday life.

Are you worried that you or a family member might have OCD? How is it best treated? Barbara Myers will be putting your questions to OCD expert Dr David Veale, a consultant PSYCHIATRIST at the Priory Hospital North LONDON.

This week's programme focuses on osteopathy, a therapy rapidly gaining in popularity which can be used to treat a variety of complaints.

Painful Knees

20041209

are a problem, and not being able to get downstairs properly can seriously affect your quality of life.

On this week's medical phone-in, Barbara Myers will be putting your calls about knees to Timothy Briggs from the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital in Stanmore.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates]

Palliative Care

20070329

This programme focuses on palliative care.

Dr Polly Edmonds talks about how pain and symptom relief, spiritual and psychological support can improve the quality of life of people with terminal illnesses.

Pms

20050317

Premenstrual Syndrome is a poorly understood mixture of emotional and physical symptoms that some women experience in the latter part of their menstrual cycle.

Have you had PMS? Do you want to know what treatments are available? How have you coped with PMS? This week on Check Up, Barbara Myers is joined by Professor Shaughn O'Brien, a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.

But how easy is it to stay silent for a week? In this week's medical phone-in, Barbara Myers invites listeners with voice problems (or a spokesperson) to share their experiences with ear nose and throat consultant, Julian Mcglashan.

Contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700-100-444 or e-mail checkup@bbc.co.uk.

This edition focuses on travel health, whether on a trip to Spain, trekking in the Himalayas, or white water rafting in Sri Lanka.

204C

05

Coeliac Disease

20040902

If you are getting bloated after eating you may be allergic to gluten.

Barbara will be taking your calls on Coeliac Disease with advice on treatment and diet from Professor Paul Ciclitira of St Thomas's Hospital, LONDON.

204C

06 LAST

Angina

20040909

If you have over-exerted yourself and then suffered from tightness in the chest, pain in the shoulders, arms or jaw, call Barbara Myers who will put your questions to Simon Davies of the Royal Brompton Hospital and he will advise on how to prevent and treat angina.

205C

01

Anaesthesia

20050728

In the first programme of a new series, Barbara Myers takes your calls and emails on anaesthesia.

Anyone who's ever had any kind of medical operation, from a filling in the teeth to major surgery, has received some kind of anaesthetic.

Pain relief is just part of the anaesthetists job, which also includes assessing a patient's fitness, monitoring in theatre and returning them to consciousness in the case of a general anaesthetic.

This is particularly delicate in children or the elderly so if you have any concerns this is your chance to put your questions to leading anaesthetist Dr David Wilkinson.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

205C

02

20050804

Most people have had the occasional bad nights sleep but if you are one of the 10-15% of the population who suffer from chronic insomnia wed like to hear from you.

It is estimated that 12 million prescriptions for sleeping pills are written each year in the UK, whether due to stress or a medical condition like restless leg syndrome.

If you have counted sheep for long enough Barbara Myers is joined by one of our leading sleep specialists to answer your questions on insomnia.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] from 1.30pm on day of broadcast or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

In families with a history of genetic illness, it's not always easy to sort out who's at risk, as it depends on what the condition is.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] with your questions.

20041230

The majority of our trips to the surgery are to talk to our doctors about common conditions such as coughs and colds, chronic pain and feeling generally under the weather.

However, it seems that we're not always satisfied with the answers we get, as we often return to the GP with the same problem.

In Check Up this week Barbara Myers will be joined by LONDON GP, Dr Ann Robinson, to answer your questions on the top five common and often chronic problems that are very familiar to her and other family doctors.

20050101

Your New Year's resolutions may well include becoming healthier.

You may have problems that you've been avoiding taking to your doctor.

In the interactive medical programme, Barbara Myers puts your questions about the top five issues that people put off discussing in the surgery with GP Dr Keith Hopcroft.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20051124

Cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more popular in the UK.

It's been estimated that around 65,000 procedures are performed each year.

Dr Adrian Richards is in the studio to answer listeners' phone calls and e-mails on a variety of aspects of cosmetic surgery, from what happens in the operating theatre to the recovery times, and the physical side-effects, as well as the psychological assessments of the patients before they have the procedures.

Call Check Up on 08700-100-444 [national rates] from 1.30pm.

20051201

It's estimated that there are around 150,000 people in the UK today with ME or related chronic fatigue syndromes.

The conditions affect people at all stages of life, but the peak age tends to be between 20 and 40 and the incidence is highest in those with stressful occupations.

Neurologist Leslie Findley will be taking calls and answering e-mails on questions about what can trigger chronic fatigue, how to diagnose it and which therapies can make a difference.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates]

20051208

Stammering is not just a speech defect.

It undermines confidence and self esteem and affects education and employment opportunities.

Barbara Myers is joined by an expert to answer your questions on how to treat stammering and other speech difficulties, particularly in children and young people.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20051215

70% of all sore throats are caused by viruses and will clear up in a few days, but what do you do if your sore throat just won't go away? Do you persist with home remedies such as salt water gargling or drinking liquorice tea, or is it time to consult a doctor?

Barbara Myers and guests will answer your questions and listen to your suggestions about how best to treat sore throats, whether or not to have your tonsils removed and how to find out when a sore throat is a sign of something more serious.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20060209

Barbara Myers is joined by consultant Dr Anthony Rudd, of Guys and St Thomas' Hospital in London, to answer questions on strokes.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20060216

Barbara Myers is joined by experts to investigate how alcohol and other aspects of our lifestyle can affect livers.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20060223

Our vision loses its sharpness as we age.

Reading glasses can help us continue to see the small print, but other conditions such as cataract and glaucoma need to be treated with surgery or drugs.

There are now experimental therapies for macular degeneration, in which the central vision is lost.

Barbara Myers will be joined by an ophthalmologist to answer your queries on the prevention and treatment of these common diseases of the ageing eye

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

20060302

Unexplained headaches are the most common reason for a GP to refer a patient to a neurologist.

They are a symptom of modern life - caused by eyestrain, stress or tiredness - but they can also indicate something more worrying.

So, how do you tell the difference? Barbara Myers is joined by headache specialist Professor Peter Goadsby, to answer your questions.

20060309

In the week of National No Smoking Day, a look at the detrimental effects of tobacco on the mouth.

It's been estimated that another one million have the condition but don't know it.

You are at risk of developing the condition if you are overweight, or have high blood pressure, or come from certain ethnic groups.

Diabetes is when your body can't use glucose properly, and is a serious disease.

If you want to know how to avoid diabetes and its complications, are worried that you may have the symptoms, or have already been diagnosed with the condition, contact the programme on 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

This edition looks at epilepsy, how to treat it and how to live with it.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

Epilepsy

20061123

This edition focuses on epilepsy, one of the most common conditions affecting the brain.

One person in 50 will have epilepsy at some point in their life.

While many epileptics live a normal life, the condition can restrict some people's independence and others can suffer social stigma.

Studio guest is Matthew Walker, consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Listeners can call 0870 010 0444.

Fibroids

20040325

This edition looks at fibroids, benign growths which can contribute to infertility, problem periods and incontinence.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

Functional Foods

20031113

20031120

If you want to know whether bio cultures in yoghurt are really health enhancing, how eggs are injected with fish oils and whether there are real benefits worth the extra cost, please contact the programme with your questions or comments.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

Giving Up Smoking

20061228

As the time for making those New Year's resolutions approaches, Check Up travels to a Brighton clinic for a programme on giving up smoking.

Barbara Myers and her specialist guests will be joined by current and ex smokers to discuss the health problems associated with smoking and the best strategies to try and make those resolutions last.

Hair: Too Much Or Too Little?

20040226

Baldness can make both sexes feel self-conscious and too much hair may be just as embarrassing.

If you suffer from hair loss, perhaps after PREGNANCY or chemotherapy and want to know how long it will take to grow back or have excess body hair you can't remove, then please contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700 100 400 [national rates].

Those who survive a heart attack may feel they have a new lease of life, but they are also at risk of having another: about 10 per cent of those who have a heart attack will have a further attack within a year of leaving hospital.

But lifestyle changes can reduce the risk.

Although many people are scared of exercising after a heart attack for fear that it'll trigger another, a gradual increase in exercise helps the heart to get back in shape and adapt to any scars left behind.

And new research suggests that the damage caused during a heart attack may in the future be repaired using new drugs and stem cells.

Listeners can call 0870 010 0444.

Hepatitis

20031211

means 'inflammation of the liver', and it is commonly caused by the presence of different viruses.

The disease can be caught from contaminated water, dirty needles, unprotected sex, and from blood transfusion despite preventative measures in place.

In many cases patients are unaware they carry the virus until health complications lead to a diagnosis.

If you want to know how to protect yourself, whether at home or abroad, please contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700 100 444 [national rates], or e-mail checkup@bbc.co.uk.

It is estimated that 1 in 13 adults have ASTHMA while 1 in 8 children are also sufferers, and ASTHMA is just one of the many respiratory diseases affecting the nation's health.

To find out the difference between EMPHYSEMA, BRONCHITIS and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or whether a child's wheeze after a cold could turn into ASTHMA, please contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700 100 400 [national rates] or e-mail checkup@bbc.co.uk.

This week on the health phone-in programme, Check Up Barbara Myers and guest will be discussing memory.

A degree of memory loss is part of the ageing process, but when does forgetfulness become dementia? Making lists, taking photographs, even making video recordings of daily life are quite common coping strategies for people with poor memories.

Menopause

20061214

The menopause is a natural part of the ageing process but for many women it can interrupt their sleep, ruin their sex lives and weaken their bones.

Recent controversy over the use of hormone replacement therapy has stopped many women taking advantage of the treatment, but others are unaware that once they stop using HRT, the hot flushes come back.

But there are ways of lessening the uncomfortable signs of the menopause.

Call Barbara Myers and her guest, gynaecologist Heather Currie, if you have any questions.

Migraine And Cluster Headaches

20040304

These can seriously affect sufferers' ability to function normally for hours or even days, and they can feel excruciating pain.

Barbara Myers puts your questions on the difference between migraine, cluster headaches and neuralgia and the latest drugs to treat them to Professor Peter Goadsby of the Headache Group at the Institute of Neurology in LONDON.

Contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700-100-444 or e-mail checkup@bbc.co.uk.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

20050324

(OCD) is a chronic relapsing anxiety disorder which is characterised by recurrent unwanted obsessive thoughts and compulsive rituals.

It can have a potentially devastating impact on all aspects of everyday life.

Are you worried that you or a family member might have OCD? How is it best treated? Barbara Myers will be putting your questions to OCD expert Dr David Veale, a consultant PSYCHIATRIST at the Priory Hospital North LONDON.

This week's programme focuses on osteopathy, a therapy rapidly gaining in popularity which can be used to treat a variety of complaints.

Painful Knees

20041209

are a problem, and not being able to get downstairs properly can seriously affect your quality of life.

On this week's medical phone-in, Barbara Myers will be putting your calls about knees to Timothy Briggs from the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital in Stanmore.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates]

Palliative Care

20070329

This programme focuses on palliative care.

Dr Polly Edmonds talks about how pain and symptom relief, spiritual and psychological support can improve the quality of life of people with terminal illnesses.

Pms

20050317

Premenstrual Syndrome is a poorly understood mixture of emotional and physical symptoms that some women experience in the latter part of their menstrual cycle.

Have you had PMS? Do you want to know what treatments are available? How have you coped with PMS? This week on Check Up, Barbara Myers is joined by Professor Shaughn O'Brien, a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.

But how easy is it to stay silent for a week? In this week's medical phone-in, Barbara Myers invites listeners with voice problems (or a spokesperson) to share their experiences with ear nose and throat consultant, Julian Mcglashan.

Contact the programme with your questions or comments on 08700-100-444 or e-mail checkup@bbc.co.uk.

This edition focuses on travel health, whether on a trip to Spain, trekking in the Himalayas, or white water rafting in Sri Lanka.

204C

05

Coeliac Disease

20040902

If you are getting bloated after eating you may be allergic to gluten.

Barbara will be taking your calls on Coeliac Disease with advice on treatment and diet from Professor Paul Ciclitira of St Thomas's Hospital, LONDON.

204C

06 LAST

Angina

20040909

If you have over-exerted yourself and then suffered from tightness in the chest, pain in the shoulders, arms or jaw, call Barbara Myers who will put your questions to Simon Davies of the Royal Brompton Hospital and he will advise on how to prevent and treat angina.

205C

01

Anaesthesia

20050728

In the first programme of a new series, Barbara Myers takes your calls and emails on anaesthesia.

Anyone who's ever had any kind of medical operation, from a filling in the teeth to major surgery, has received some kind of anaesthetic.

Pain relief is just part of the anaesthetists job, which also includes assessing a patient's fitness, monitoring in theatre and returning them to consciousness in the case of a general anaesthetic.

This is particularly delicate in children or the elderly so if you have any concerns this is your chance to put your questions to leading anaesthetist Dr David Wilkinson.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.

205C

02

20050804

Most people have had the occasional bad nights sleep but if you are one of the 10-15% of the population who suffer from chronic insomnia wed like to hear from you.

It is estimated that 12 million prescriptions for sleeping pills are written each year in the UK, whether due to stress or a medical condition like restless leg syndrome.

If you have counted sheep for long enough Barbara Myers is joined by one of our leading sleep specialists to answer your questions on insomnia.

Call 08700 100 444 [national rates] from 1.30pm on day of broadcast or email checkup@bbc.co.uk.